It might be even deeper than that, Yeaux. The Vikings would have been as much carriers of European diseases as Columbus' crew. Yet, there is no evidence of disease outbreaks from Viking times. Had there been, one would have expected to see some degree of resistance to those diseases when Europeans did arrive.
In his book, 1491, Charles Mann points out that while colonization of North America did not begin until the early 17th century there had been contact as fishermen from Europe began checking out American waters. They would put in for water and provisioning and their contact with native-americans was sufficient to begin the spread of the various epidemics which utterly decimated the indigenous population long before colonists arrived.
It's quite a good book.
In his book, 1491, Charles Mann points out that while colonization of North America did not begin until the early 17th century there had been contact as fishermen from Europe began checking out American waters. They would put in for water and provisioning and their contact with native-americans was sufficient to begin the spread of the various epidemics which utterly decimated the indigenous population long before colonists arrived.
It's quite a good book.
